Autograph letter signed by Theodore Frelinghuysen Vaill (1832-1875), 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery. 2 pages, large 4to, 8 1/2 x 11 1/8 in., on hand-colored illustrated Charles Magnus letterhead with "Panoramic View of the Fortifications Around Washington" and "Topographical Map of Virginia between Washington and Manassas Junction." 

A soldier's letter penned on a beautiful hand-colored illustrated lettersheet published by Charles Magnus. Written by Theodore Frelinghuysen Vaill, who went on to publish the regimental history of the 2nd Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery (initially organized as the 19th Connecticut Infantry) in 1868.  

Here he writes from one of the fortifications near Alexandria to his comrade, who is evidently recuperating from an illness at home. He gives details of their new camp and tent arrangements of the "Happy Family," remarking that "we saved a place for you until a day or two ago, when Robert Watt was put in with us. He is a very decent fellow, but if you should ever come he would have to go out." In the letter's postscript, he writes: "'Good' sends his love & says don't come till you are well. Wright sends love & all the boys ditto. Our tents are of this shape & we sleep in this way." He follows with a small drawing illustrating the sleeping arrangements. 

Interestingly, he mentions the rumors of the Emancipation Proclamation in a lengthy musing about soldiers' general lack of information: "As for war news, we do not know half about it as we did when we were at home. We can see the dome of the Capitol from our camp & the head & heart of the Government are within cannon shot of us. But it is a great mistake to suppose that soldiers have as good means of being posted upon the condition of affairs as other people. The opinion of a soldier or even of an officer, upon the war, the [Emancipation] Proclamation, the management of the army, or any of these questions, isn't worth half as much as your brother Charley's opinion. They drill & scour their brass & clean their guns, but they are all prisoners & have as much difficulty in coming at a just conclusion in matters of public interest as the prisoners in Litchfield Jail would have."

Vaill had enlisted as private on 13 August 1862 and was mustered into Company A of the 2nd Heavy Artillery. He was promoted continuously through his enlistment, reaching the rank of Adjutant as of 5 March 1864. During the Siege of Petersburg, he was wounded at Fort Fisher, but the wound in the left hip was not grievous and he remained with his regiment until he mustered out at Fort Ethan Allen on 18 August 1865. 

A beautiful letter.

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